Ignition device



April 22, 1952 F, CAJ UMl 2,593,978

IGNITION DEVICE Filed March 10, 1950 H MMIIIlnnullnlnlnuln mm INVENTOR. F94 /vz CA www gym ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 22, 1952 OFFICE IGNITION DEVICE Franz Cajumi, Innsbruck, Austria, assigner of one-half to Louis Coleman, New York, N. Y.

Application March 10, 1950, Serial No. 148,785 In Austria January 12, 1946 1 Claim.

This invention relates to igniters for household or other uses. Further the invention pertains to means for electrically producing ignition for lighting a gas stove or the like without the use of matches or other means. Generally the invention pertains to simple and inexpensive means for safely igniting a torch electrically.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, safe and inexpensive electrical igniter unit that is easy and convenient to use. It is also an object to provide a device of this order which may be operated on the usual household 110 volt service. A further object is to provide a simple and inexpensive device which may be plugged in on the household electric service and which is inert normally but which is instantly usable when required to provide ignition.

Further objects and the advantages of the invention will be apparent as the specification is read in conjunction with the drawings which form a part of this application. Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of my device in a preierred form and in which the cover plate has been removed.

Figure 2 is a sectional, side elevation. with the cover plate in place.

Figure 3 is a complete front view assembly of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 4 is a torch suitable for use with my invention.

In the drawings, 5 is a base member which may be made of a plastic or other strong, suitable non-conducting or electric insulating material. Formed in the face of member 5 is a circular groove 6, in which is housed a resistance coil 1 which may be made of Nichrome or other suitable wire. Centrally positioned, spaced apart and secured to the face of the base 5, are two simliar elements 8 and 9 each having an upwardly extending projection II] and II and each provided with teeth along their upper edge, as at I 2. A two wire cable I3 is adapted to supply electric current to the unit, one of said wires being connected with the element 9 and the other wire being connected with one end of the resistance coil 1, the other end of the resistance coil being connected with the element 5. From this it will be seen that because of the gap I4 between the elements 8 and 9 no current will flow through the system. However, with the current on. when a suitable metallic element is drawn over the teeth on the pair of elements 8 and 9 current will be caused to now as the gap I4 is closed causing sparks to be emitted, moving the said element over the teeth causing a shower of sparks, in a well known manner. For safety in handling and to protect the electrical parts a cover plate I5. having a narrow slot I6, is secured to the base member 5, the said narrow slot I6 acting as a protective guide for a spark producing means which may be drawn over the teeth I2, the said slot I6 preferably being such as to prevent accidental bodily contact with any part of the elements 8 and 9. For convenience in utilizing the device I preferably provide a small cylindrical torch I'I which is adapted to contain a suitable fuel I8 into which a wick I9 dips, the outer end 20 of the wick projecting from the neck portion 2|, a suitable cap 221 serving to protect the wick and prevent evaporation of the fuel. A button 23 is adapted to engage a suitable hook element 24 on the face plate I5 and aiords a convenient means for hanging the torch on the front of the unit, when not in use, and preferably in a position to normally cover the open slot I6 previously described.

When it is desired to light a gas stove or other device the torch I'I is unhooked or otherwise removed from the face of the igniter and the cap 22 removed to expose the wick 20. The metal head of the torch is then rubbed along the teeth of the two elements I0 and II so that the sparks evolved will ignite the wick, whereupon the torch ilame is available for whatever purpose it is required.

From the above it will be seen that I provide a simple, handy and inexpensive ignition means for all useful purposes. A relatively heavy current may be employed without danger of electrical damage because of the presence of the resistance element in the circuit. The electrical parts are substantially hooded by the cover plate so that the apparatus is safe to handle, the slot in the cover plate being narrow, only wide enough to permit the igniter rod or torch to enter and be moved over the relatively short distance occupied by the teeth on the contact elements.

Having illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention I desire it to be understood that certain changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

I claim as my invention:

An electric ignition device for igniting the wick of an elongated torch having the wick at one end thereof, said ignition device including a substantially circular wall plate of insulating material having a circular groove in one side thereof, a resistance coil disposed in the circular groove and conforming to the circular form thereof and having the ends thereof spaced apart in the groove, a pair of elongated contact plates secured upon said one side of said Wall plate upon the central area thereof and spaced apart in substantial parallelism with the inner adjacent edges bent upright andv serrated to form serrated flanges, an electric conductor connected to one end of the resistance coil in the groove, another electric conductor connected to one of said contact p late's, a connection between the other contact plate and the other end of said resistance coil, and a cover plate of circular form mounted upon the wall plate having an elongated narrow slot diametrically disposed and registering with the serrated anges on said contact plates, said slot being suiciently narrow to prevent bodily contact of the torch with the serrated anges but allowing the point of the torch to be inserted anddrawn along the serrations of the flanges to give rise to sparks and thereby ignite said torch.

said cover plate protecting the resistance coil throughout its length in said groove and having hook means atone end of the slot for suspending said torch.

CAJUMI, FRANZ.

REFERENCES CITED VThe following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,517,477 White Dec. 2, 1924 1,531,879 Rinderspacher Mar. 31, 1925 1,765,633 Stevenson June 24, 1930 2,013,866. Smith Sept. 10, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 106,889 Switzerland Sept. 16, 1924 786,116 France Feb-27, 1935 567,210 Great-Britain Feb. 2, 1945 

